The Commonwealth of Coreras is a gargantuan, efficient nation, ruled by Iain Banks with an even hand, and renowned for its national health service, anti-smoking policies, and sprawling nuclear power plants. The hard-nosed, hard-working, democratic, humorless population of 10.524 billion Corerasians have some civil rights, but not too many, enjoy the freedom to spend their money however they like, to a point, and take part in free and open elections, although not too often.

The relatively small government is primarily concerned with Education, with Environment, Healthcare, and Defense also on the agenda, while Spirituality and Administration receive no funds. It meets to discuss matters of state in the capital city of Remuera. The average income tax rate is 25.3%, but much higher for the wealthy.

The frighteningly efficient Corerasian economy, worth a remarkable 2,059 trillion Marks a year, is led by the Tourism industry, with significant contributions from Information Technology and Book Publishing. State-owned companies are reasonably common. Average income is an impressive 195,733 Marks, and evenly distributed, with the richest citizens earning only 2.0 times as much as the poorest.

The government is making attempts at curtailing the flood of spam emails with little progress, motorists must pay to enter inner-cities during peak hours, abortions are routinely performed in Coreras's hospitals, and the military struggles with recruitment. Crime is totally unknown. Coreras's national animal is the Dragon, which is also the nation's favorite main course.